Key-holder



(No Model.) v

J. SGHLUTTE R.

KEY HOLDER.

No. 455,060. Patented June 30, 1891;

WITNESSES: K 3% am 7/. W

ATTORNEY.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN SCHLUTTER, or BALTIMORE, MA YLAND.

KEY-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 455,060, dated June 30, 1891. Application filed October 28, 1890. Serial No. 369,577. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN SCHLUTTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key- Holders, of which the following is specification.

My invention relates to devices for carrying keys, and is intended as an improvement over the key-rings now in use, the object being to produce a more serviceable and convenient article than has heretofore been known, and one which will accommodate any style of key, and when once closed cannot open accidentally and allow the keys to escape.

\Vith these ends in View the invention may be said to consist in the peculiar features of construction and combination of parts which will be more fully set forth hereinafter and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my complete device, shown closed, confining the keys; Fig. 2, aview of the same opened and straightened out; Fig. 3, aview illustrating the manner of forming the coupling or connection between the ends; Fig. 4, a side view of the device closed, as in Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a detail of the button and S-link connected thereto.

Referringto the drawings, the letter a indicates achain of suitable size and length, preferably about four inches long and formed of simple straight links to prevent kinking. To one end of this chain is coupled an S-link b, the opposite end of which is hooked over the shank b of an open-center button 0, which is simply a flat metallic disk. A short straight metal bar d is connected to the other end of the chain, and is made with a longitudinal slot 0', having alength alittle greater than the diameter of the button 0, so that the latter can pass freely through. To accommodate the shank of the button and the S- link connected thereto, I provide a notch or offset 1) at the middle of the slot, opening out of one side of the same, and in the present instance semicircular, although it will be evident that any other suitable shape might be employed. The bar d is made narrow enough so that any size or style of key can be slipped over it onto the chain a, and the button 0 is of sufficient size to prevent the I keys from slipping off that end of the chain.

After the desired number of keys have been run onto the chain the button and bar are brought together and the button is turned against the S-link, as seen in Fig. 5, and then inserted through the slot 0 the shank and link being coincident with the notch 6 WVhen the button has been inserted all the way through the slot, it is turned to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, with the button lying across the bar, and the couplingis thus effected and the chain forms a loop. To open the loop the S-link will be drawn through the slot and the button turned against it and then pushed back through the bar, when the device will be again in condition to receive a key or keys. The advantages of this arrangement will be apparent, as the coupling and uncoupling of the button and bar can be readily effected and any kind of key can be easily slipped onto the chain when open, while after the same has. been closed the keys cannot possibly slip off accidentally. Moreover, the parts can be cheaply manufactured and put together, so that the article will not be expensive, but yet will present an attractive appearance. Again, when a large number of keys are carried, they will not project in all directions, as 011 a rigid ring,but will fall compactly together, owing to the flexibility of the chain.

It is evident that numerous changes which would naturally suggest themselves to a mechanical mind could be made in the construction of my device and formation of the parts which go to make it up, and hence Ido not wish to be limited to the exact arrangement herein shown, but consider myself entitled to all such variations as come within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A key-holder consisting of a chain, an elongated bar attached to one end of said chain and over which the keys are slippedin running them onto the chain, said bar having a lengthwise slot-with a notch or offset in one side, and a button or disk connected to the other end of the chain by an elongated link attached to its shank and adapted to be In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in inserted through the slot in said bar, the said the presence of two Witnesses. notch or offset accommodating; the shank of the button and the said elongated link, and J OIIN SOIILUTTER. 5 said button being turned across said bar 2113- \Vitnesses:

ter passing through the same, for the purpose F. P. DAVIS,

set forth. JNO. '1. MAJDDOX. 

